Meal Prep Tips

You have gone grocery shopping now it is time to prepare your meals for the week. It is easier to make healthier food choices if your meals are ready to go. It will save time and take the guesswork out of determining what you should cook for dinner or take for lunch the next day.

It might seem tedious at first coming up with your menu for the week. You may find it easier to plan for a couple days or the entire month in advance. It is completly up to you how far ahead you prep your meals. The more you prepare meals in advance the easier it becomes.

 

Here are a few tips with preparing meals:

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1.     Start the water boiling – as soon as you place the bags on the kitchen counter, break out the stock pot for boiling potatoes, rice, pasta, or eggs. Then, while waiting for the water to boil, you can start prepping or putting items away.

2.     Turn the Oven on – plan ahead of time what meat, veggies, or potatoes you will be roasting or broiling for the week or the evening’s dinner.

3.     Plan the Proteins - Decide what meat you need to have cooked ahead of time or what can be portioned off in placed in the refrigerator, and what can be frozen. Break out the George Foreman Grill and grill up some chicken to be used for grilled chicken salads, wraps, quesadillas or sandwiches.

4.     Prep the Veggies - while the water is boiling away and the meat is grilling, it is now time to slaughter those veggies! You will be so much more likely to eat them up in salads or steamed or grilled if the prep work is done ahead of time. Wash, peel, and slice everything that will not go bad or get mushy or discolored if you do. Having the right storage container is a must. Choose stackable and see through.

5.     Take Care of Snacks - keep a bowl on your table or counter top where the non-perishable snacks can be easily reached. This is the time to portion the pretzels, dried fruit, and nuts into zip lock baggies. Keep granola and protein bars, fuit buddys and your pre-portioned snacks within eyesight.

6.     Cook for the Evening  - if you are making something special for that night. Think Chili, a crock pot dish, soup, or stew that can be used again for leftovers or frozen for later use midweek.

Google, Pinterest, Facebook and blogs are your friend. You can find ideal storage containers, freezer friendly recipes, and other meal ideas.

Go forth and PREPARE!